Outbreak of mpox declared in Gambia
In a recent statement, the World Health Organisation's director declared that mpox continues to be an international health emergency. This announcement comes amid a surge in mpox cases in West Africa, with countries like The Gambia and Liberia reporting active cases.
As of early June, Liberia had 71 active cases of mpox, according to its National Public Health Institute. The Gambia reported an outbreak on July 22, marking its first recorded cases of the disease this year. The Health Ministry in The Gambia is conducting contact tracing to prevent the spread of mpox, and is actively looking for cases.
Sierra Leone, another affected country, has seen a significant number of cases this year. From January to late May, the country recorded a total of 3,350 cases, including 16 deaths. The disease, which causes fever, muscular aches, and large boil-like skin lesions, can be deadly.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains a significant hotspot for mpox, with 200 to 600 new cases reported weekly. It was the first country to record mpox in 1970. Uganda and other East African countries like Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia also have widespread mpox presence.
Burundi is experiencing a high burden of mpox, with children accounting for nearly 60% of infections and a majority of deaths among children. West African countries such as Guinea are also seeing recent increases, while Sierra Leone is stabilising somewhat.
Liberia continues to report mpox outbreaks caused by the Clade II virus, which affects males and females about equally and includes person-to-person transmission through intimate contact. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccination for travelers to Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The WHO continues to prioritize mpox response in Africa due to ongoing rises in cases, regional spread, and challenges in healthcare infrastructure. The organisation is working to improve surveillance, diagnostics, and funding to combat the outbreak.
This status reflects information up to July 2025, and due to possible reporting lags, real-time data may vary. The Health Ministry in each country is engaging communities to prevent the spread of mpox. Thousands of cases of mpox have been recorded this year across DR Congo, Uganda, and Burundi, according to the WHO.
Mpox is caused by a virus from the same family as smallpox. The disease can be transmitted to humans by infected animals and can also be passed between people through close physical contact.
References:
- World Health Organisation (2025). Mpox situation report - 25 July 2025 [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/mpox-situation-report
- World Health Organisation (2025). Mpox situation report - 18 June 2025 [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/mpox-situation-report
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2025). Monkeypox in Africa [online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/africa/index.html
- World Health Organisation (2025). Mpox situation report - 29 June 2025 [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/mpox-situation-report
- Amid the continual rising numbers of mpox cases, especially in West African countries like The Gambia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, the recent general news and health-and-wellness concerns are focusing on the ongoing efforts to combat this medical-condition.
- As the World Health Organisation (WHO) acknowledges, politics plays a crucial role in the global response to mpox as it struggles with inadequate healthcare infrastructure, challenges in funding, and the need for improved surveillance and diagnostics to combat the growing crisis in Africa.
